A STAR-STUDDED field headed by Mark Royal, from the Risbygate club in Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk, will compete at the fourth annual North Wilts Open Singles Tournament.

Royal, the world number 11, who went out in the first round of this year’s world championship at Potters, Norfolk, has only made three starts this season, winning on the Open Singles Circuit at Spalding, Lincs and is ranked in 22nd place.

Also competing at the Chippenham club will be the two previous North Wilts Open winners, Clarrie Dunbar’s Keith Bailey, successful in 2014, and the winner of the last two years, Martin Selway (Islwyn, Caerphilly, Wales).

A top prize of £1,000 is on offer to the winner of the event, whose sponsors include the Gazette & Herald.

The tournament is part of the Open Singles Circuit (OSC) and is number 16 of 21 open events around the country that culminate in the top 32 players in the rankings contesting the grand final at Northampton & District in October.

A full-house field of 72 players contests the two-day event, with play starting on Saturday at 9am-7.30pm and restarting on Sunday at 9am, with the final scheduled for 6.30pm.

Nine of the top 20 in the latest OSC rankings following last weekend’s tournament in Bristol feature including Paul Sharman (2, Carterton, Oxfordshire), Danny Denison (4, Torquay Utd), Norman Coad (5, Bodmin), Trevor Roberts (7, Falaise, East Sussex), England U25 international Ryan Atkins (12, Malvern Hills), BJ Byles (14, Whitenights), Ian Jenkins (15,Egham ), Steve Broome (16, Welford-on-Avon) and Craig Hatherall (20, Westlecot).

Malvern Hills’ Shaun Jones, the 2014 Grand Prix winner, takes part, as does previous finalist Jean Collier, from the host club.

Each tournament match will consist of two sets of seven ends, with a three-end tie breaker played in the event of a draw.

Spectators are welcome, with admission free and the club bar and restaurant open throughout the two-day event.